I am trying to research the functional difference between these two style of hooks, and cannot find much. I understand the general shap differences, but not the benfits/downsides to each style.

Anyone have any insight?

Round bend is exactly that the bend is a full radius. 

Sproat bend starts out bending with a larger radii and changes near the hook point to a tighter radii, this design strengthens the bend. O'Shaunessy bend is a sproat bend that is forged to increase strength.

All 3 styles are made in wide gap and standard gap. O'Shaunessy being the strongest with equal diameter wire.  Round bend having the shortest bend length.

Tom 

8 minutes ago, WRB said:

Round bend is exactly that the bend is a full radius. 

Sproat bend starts out bending with a larger radii and changes near the hook point to a tighter radii, this design strengthens the bend. O'Shaunessy bend is a sproat bend that is forged to increase strength.

All 3 styles are made in wide gap and standard gap. O'Shaunessy being the strongest with equal diameter wire.  Round bend having the shortest bend length.

Tom 

Yes, but what is the benefit or ideal application for each?

Personal preference.

Treble hooks with round bend have shorter shank length, some anglers like short shank treble hooks on crank baits, I prefer longer shank trebles believing they are harder to shake loose.

Single hooks with 60 or 90 degree bend jig hook with sproat or O'Shaunessy bend have longer hook shanks, setting the hook point further back from the jig head. I prefer O'Shaunessy jig hooks becuase the hook is longer for casting jigs, giving a higher % of successful hook sets.

Round bend jig hooks have shorter shanks a more compact hook for more vertical jig presentation, work better with weed guards.

Worm hooks, sproat and O'Shaunessy with shaft barbs are also longer shank hooks, good for Texas rigged worms, round bend are shorter.

Thats my point of view, let's see what others think.

Tom

If you Google Sproat vs Round Bend bassresource it will pull up all threads in bassresource archives.

FYI: some hook brands have longer shanks that others

Round bend hooks have a higher hookup ratio!

I know the question was NOT "what is the difference" - you already knew that. I use both round bend and a sproat-type and like both. Skeet Reese says he loses way fewer fish with  sproat-type hook so I would defer to his expertise.

You could ask 10 tx pros a question and get 11 different opinions. You can't defer to all of them. I listen to their thoughts, factor them in and come to my own conclusions or at least a comfort level high enough to experiment without anxiety. 

I agree, it just seems that I can't find very much information online about this specific question. Anyone have any links?